PCOS
Most women associate hormones with menopause. However, most women are unaware that premenopausal women might need hormones as well.
Over 20% of all premenopausal women have a hormonal disorder termed “Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)”. The name is misleading because the defect does not lie in the ovaries. In fact, the ovaries are not to blame for this syndrome in spite of the name.
At least 50% of women with PCOS will have ovarian cysts – therefore the name PCOS.
However 50% of women with PCOS do not have ovarian cysts.
And not all women with ovarian cysts have PCOS.
Ovarian cysts can be the result of PCOS but the cysts are not the cause. PCOS is actually an endocrine disorder and not a gynecological disorder. The syndrome is genetic and due to insulin resistance. Treating the insulin resistance is the key to controlling the symptoms of PCOS as well as all of the possible serious complications of PCOS that are related to insulin resistance.
Watch the video below to learn more.
Common signs of PCOS are irregular periods, heavy periods, difficulty getting pregnant, weight gain, difficulty losing weight. Most women with PCOS do not have all the signs of PCOS. In fact, many women will have normal periods and conceive normally. Many women with PCOS are overweight, yet 50% will be of normal weight. Therefore making the diagnosis of PCOS is elusive to both doctors and patients. This is precisely why PCOS is often missed. In addition, many doctors are not aware of PCOS, don’t know how to diagnosis or treat it, and often dismiss women’s complaints as normal.
Other common symptoms of PCOS include acne, hirsutism (unwanted hair growth), sugar craving, severe PMS. The ovarian cysts can be painful or asymptomatic. Some women might have trouble with fertility. Women with any of the symptoms should be evaluated and if they have PCOS they should be treated to improve symptoms as well as to preserve health and wellness. Simple blood tests will determine the diagnosis and the severity will determine the treatment.
It is of utmost importance to diagnosis and treat PCOS. It can contribute to heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer and early mortality, all of which can and should be prevented with early diagnosis and aggressive treatment.
The cause of PCOS is genetic and related to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance results in alterations of the pituitary hormones FSH and LH. These hormones can be the cause of the ovarian cysts and menstrual irregularities. Insulin resistance also causes loss of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), which results in less binding of testosterone with the resultant increase in free testosterone. This higher level of free testosterone results in the skin and aesthetic changes such as acne and excessive hair growth, such as facial hair. The insulin resistance increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The importance of early diagnosis and treatment of PCOS is clear, particularly in light of the varied signs and symptoms, which makes the disorder confusing and difficult to diagnosis. It is a prevalent hormone disorder in premenopausal young women.
Once the diagnosis is considered and confirmed, the treatment is straightforward and simple. Insulin sensitizers are medicines that decrease insulin and insulin resistance. The treatment of the insulin resistance reverses menstrual and fertility abnormalities. Although testosterone is extremely important in both premenopausal and post menopausal women, too much can adversely affect the skin. Therefore, medicines that prevent the skin sensitivity of PCOS are also recommended. The potential harm of future diabetes and heart disease is eliminated by lowering the adrenal hormone known as aldosterone, which increases systemic inflammation of blood vessels that eventually lead to heart disease and strokes. Obviously it is imperative to decrease the insulin resistance with diet, exercise and medication and lower the systemic inflammation that causes plaque formation. Most young women just want their symptoms and skin changes to improve and don’t appreciate the long-term health risks from PCOS. Unfortunately many physicians don’t either.
A recent study demonstrated that women with PCOS have a five-fold increased risk of breast cancer due to loss of progesterone. Prescribing natural progesterone is very beneficial in the treatment of PMS and heavy bleeding, however it is of utmost importance in protecting against breast cancer. The medical literature very adequately demonstrates progesterone’s protective effect against breast cancer and most women with PCOS lack adequate progesterone, which puts them at risk for breast cancer.
Inadequate production of progesterone, due to anovulation or failure to release an egg from the ovary, also puts one at risk for uterine cancer. Women that demonstrate irregular periods and anovulation will also experience fertility difficulty. Progesterone maintains pregnancy as it is pro-gestational or the hormone of pregnancy. Women with PCOS have a 50% miscarriage rate due to loss of progesterone thereby making it imperative that women with PCOS take natural progesterone throughout their pregnancy to prevent miscarriages.
Finally, most women with PCOS are thyroid resistant. Optimization of thyroid function improves metabolism and fatigue associated with PCOS as well as assisting in weight loss. Thyroid should be optimized by supplementing with natural thyroid hormone. Diet, exercise and weight loss are emphasized to further lower insulin resistance, which along with thyroid administration increases success in lowering insulin resistance.
Appropriate treatment of PCOS :
Treat the insulin resistance
Replace progesterone
Optimize thyroid
Treat acne and hirsutism
Early diagnosis and adequate treatment of PCOS is of the utmost importance for health and well being. Unfortunately, PCOS is tremendously under recognized, under diagnosed and untreated. Increased patient awareness and understanding will lead to better diagnosis and treatment strategies, less health risks and better quality of life for those 20% of women that have this endocrine (not gynecological) disorder. Any premenopausal woman that complains of menstrual irregularity, PMS, heavy bleeding, mood disorder, weight gain, fatigue, facial hair growth, or sugar craving should be screened and treated for PCOS. Recognizing and treating PCOS is imperative for long-term health and well-being.
ReNue Health is located conveniently in Springboro, Ohio with easy access from Dayton International Airport, Cincinnati International Airport or the adjacent Wright Brothers Private Airport (MGY) for those travelling by private aviation. We provide hormone therapy for patients in the greater Dayton and Cincinnati areas.
Only one visit is necessary to perform a comprehensive history, interview, and education. Follow up evaluations, adjustments and balancing of hormones are done by phone or written communications and a return visit to Dr. Rob is not necessary. Ongoing testing and adjustment is mandatory and performed through a laboratory convenient to your home.
Appointments can be made by calling the main office number 937-350-5527 for information.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Please complete all Renue Health questionnaires, ordered laboratory and obtain any necessary old medical records before you arrive for your initial consultation. This will allow Dr. Rob and his staff time to compile your biomarkers effectively and efficiently.
You will receive an email after you make a consultation appointment that contains a link to our online patient forms. You can then download all of the intake forms, Elite Lifestyle Questionnaire and Nutritional Questionnaire. https://www.renuehealth.com/request-an-appointment/
Upon completion of your consultation, you will receive a copy of all your biomarkers, relevant data and recommendations on a flash drive. Should you need additional copies of your medical records, a $30 administrative fee will be charged for copies, handling, and postage.
We will provide you with an itemized bill that you can file with your insurance company. Patients who have out-of-network benefits may or may not be reimbursed. Our office cannot assist you with claim resolution.
You may be able to use pre-tax dollars from a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for your fees related to your services from this office.
Renue Health nor Dr. Rob nor any of his employees or affiliates is responsible for payment differences or amounts set by your insurance company. Payment amounts vary per insurance provider depending on your agreement with them and this office is not responsible for dictating or making you aware of the terms and agreements between your insurance company and yourself. Please contact your insurance company with any questions or concerns regarding covered amounts and deductibles.
All of our services must be paid for at the time the services are delivered.
We currently have a waiting list for consultations and many of our clients are travelling from considerable distances. We ask that if you know that you need to cancel or reschedule, please let us know as soon as possible so that we may offer your consultation time to someone on the current waiting list.
Please allow up to 72 business hours for a return call. In many instances, we may be able to get back to you sooner than that. Another way to contact the Renue Health Team is by sending us an email through our directions and contact information page.
If you are a concierge patient then you have Dr. Rob’s private cell phone number and Team numbers and can feel free to contact him or any of the team members directly.
Some of the specialty labs that we recommend involve blood, stool, urine, or saliva samples and can be done by you in your home. You will be given all lab kits and step-by-step instructions for at-home tests at the time of your consult. Once all of the final lab results are received, we will review them with you at your visit.
When we request laboratory tests, it is essential that they be performed promptly. Many tests can take up to 4 weeks to perform and for the results to be returned to us. Please do not delay in completing your tests. Some of the specialized tests may not be considered medically necessary by your insurance carrier, and therefore might not be covered.
It is your responsibility to make a follow-up appointment to review your lab results with Dr. Rob. If you are unable to return to our office to review your labs, we are available by Skype, Face time, or telephone.
Nutritional supplements are often recommended and we will help you select and find the highest quality products.
The supplements that we recommend at Renue Health are available for purchase from our office.
It is possible to have your supplements automatically shipped to your home or office for your convenience.
Information about Dr. Rob, Renue Health and the focus areas of our practice is available on our website at https://www.renuehealth.com and you can learn more about Dr. Rob at https://www.renuehealth.com/about-renue-health/
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While the focus of our practice is on the optimization of male performance and health we also do optimize the performance and health of women. Medical conditions we treat and testing we perform:
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